Letters to the editor

HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Published 5:30 am, Monday, August 1, 2011

Don't be naive

Regarding "Cut the flab" (Page B11, Tuesday), in 1936, a report prepared for President Franklin Roosevelt described the federal policy limiting homesteads to 160 acres as an obligatory act of poverty. And here, 75 years later, you think we can feed the 6 billion people in the world every day by going back to Old McDonald's farms. Think of all the money we would save and how much better the environment would be if everyone in Houston walked to work instead of spending tax dollars on highways and transit systems.

Naïve nostalgia won't feed and clothe our growing population, and the cost of farm programs is practically nothing compared to the huge federal subsidies that support our national infrastructure for energy, transportation, housing and health care.

Tall ship of Texas

Regarding "Tall ship hits low point" (Page A1, July 12), thank you for your front page photo of the tall ship Elissa, but the tale of her corrosion and unfitness to sail is sad.

The Elissa was the oldest of the Class A vessels to sail to New York Harbor, where on July 4, 1986, a Parade of Tall Ships honored the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty. Elissa is still open as a museum ship at her slip in Galveston, and visitors' fees will help defray the costs of her repair, as will sales of Elissa memorabilia from the museum shop.

Loser pays

Regarding "Perry signs 'loser pays' law" (Page B1, Thursday), once again our Republican leadership has created a name for a pet project that they can say over and over until it is perceived as factual by the masses.

If this legislation were truly 'loser pays,' then the defendant would have to pay the plaintiff's legal fees if the plaintiff wins. It is only the plaintiff who runs the risk of paying the other side's attorney's fees in this new law, once again taking rights away from the injured, in another attempt to limit access to our civil courthouse.

Attorneys' fees are not recoverable by the plaintiff in virtually any tort case, save and except the limited situations where they are allowed by statute.

The home builders, insurance companies and big business have once again gotten exactly what they paid for. At least the Legislature won't meet again for another two years.

A bad attitude

Regarding "Where are the women?" (Page D1, Thursday), women will never win the battle for full equality in the workplace until our churches begin to speak out for Christian women's equality.

Many churches teach that women are equal, but that's not the case, and this mindset prevails in the workplace. It is an attitude that is ingrained by the society we live in and dominates whether the men or women attend church or not. That attitude must change.

Simply appalled

Regarding "Repeat drunken driver gets 55 years in prison" (Page B2, July 22), Gliddon Davis was sentenced to 55 years after eight drunken-driving convictions. I am appalled that he was even on the street driving.

What in the world is wrong with our system that allows offenders to continue to drive after more than one DWI?